Adjustable support arm structure

ABSTRACT

An adjustable support arm structure, for adjustable extension of a support arm in a frame, such as an adjustable arm or arms supporting a device on the outwardly extending end thereof, having novel structural features permitting simplified, convenient and efficient adjustment and extension of said structure in order to accommodate use with equal efficiency in connection with a variety of products of various dimensions and various conditions of use of the supported device.

0 United States Patent {151 3,638 89 1 Schlosser 1 Feb. 1, 1972 [54] ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT ARM 1,265,113 5/1918 Reimer et a1 ..287/58 X STRUCTURE 2,484,578 10/1949 Nigg ..287/58 X 2,710,207 6/1955 Mueller ..287/58 [721 Rdgefie'd Park 3,124,331 3/1964 Direnna ..2s7/ss x [73] Assignee: Ptaff & Kendall, Newark, NJ.

. Primary ExaminerJ. Franklin Foss [22] Filed 1970 Attorney-Sommers& Sommers [21] Appl. No.: 12,616

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..Z48/22l, 52/40, 52/649, A dj t ble upp t arm structure, for adjustable extension 52/721, 248/293 of a support arm in a frame, such as an adjustable arm or arms [51] Int. Cl ..E04h 12/00 supporting a device on the outwardly extending end h f [58] Field oiSearch ..248/221, 298,230, 122,188.5; having novel Structural features permitting simpnficd com 52/40 287/58 285/302 venient and efficient adjustment and extension of said structure in order to accommodate use with equal efficiency in [56] References cued connection with a variety of products of various dimensions UNITED STATES PATENTS and various conditions of use of the supported device.

993,015 5/ 1911 Bengtsson ..287/58 X 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures "mum INVENTOR, FRANCIS G. SCH LOSSER I mtmm w 3,838,391

FIG. 5

INVENTOR. FRANCIS; SCHLOSSER ATTORNEYS 1 ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT ARM STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to a support arm structure, providing support for a device to be utilized in conjunction therewith, and more particularly to an adjustable support arm structure adapted to be utilized by extendible adjustment to adapt readily and conveniently to changed operating conditions.

Pursuant to the invention, the support arm structure may be adjusted and extended in an efficient, safe and convenient fashion, with means thereon to enable accommodation for the changed operational conditions in which the supported device is utilized, thereby enabling the user to install thedevice with the advantage that further or current changes in operating conditions can be accommodated in the field without the necessity of obtaining complete or additional new equipment or for making changes in the support arm structure.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational, partly broken, view of an extendible support arm shown in an extendible support arm structure embodying the invention, with the support arm shown in an unextended position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the structure embodying the invention, with the support arm in an extended position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational, fragmentary view of retention means utilized in the invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevational fragmentary view of the retention means, taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical elevational, partly sectional, view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

As will be seen from the drawings, forming a part hereof, this invention relates to a support arm structure which is adjustable and extendible (as will be described below with reference generally to FIGS. 1 and 2) so that the support arm may be extended or retracted, for selective positioning of a supported device thereon with respect to the operational conditions of the structure s surroundings, by adjustment of retention means and extension or retraction of support arms.

The extendible support ann structure 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2), for example, consists of outer support arm means 12, inner support arm means 13, retention means 14, and frame support 15.

The outer support arm means 12, for example, may comprise a pair of outer support arms, each of which comprises a tubular arm, such as upper outer support arm 20 and lower outer support arm 21 (FIGS. 1 and 2) interconnected and supported by vertical struts 22, 23 which comprise tubular link arms for support.

The inner support arm means 13, for example, may comprise a pair of inner support arms, each of which comprises a tubular arm, such as upper inner support arm 30 and lower inner support arm 31, of outside diameters less than the inside diameter of outer support arm means 12, for sliding movement of said inner support arm means 13 in and with respect to said outer support arm means 12, with the inner arms being interlinked by vertical strut 32 and end connector 33.

The retention means 14 (FIGS. 35) consists, for example, of upper arm clamp 40, and lower arm clamp 41, with upper fixing means 42, and lower fixing means 43 therein and longitudinal slit 44 on the bottom of each of said outer support arms inward of the free ends thereof, to clamp and retain said inner support arms therein. Flared end 45 (FIG. 3) or other stop means prevents the arm clamps from sliding off or otherwise moving free of the outer support arms during the adjustment operation.

The frame support (FIGS. 1 and 2), for example, comprises a post or pole 50 with frame clamps 51, 52 thereon to attach the outer support arms thereto.

OPERATION OF THE DEVICE In operation, the extendible support arm structure 11 is installed at the location desired so that the device D to be supported thereon, (for example, a traffic signal, railroad signal, or other device to be supported in an overhanging position) is fixed in position by retention means 14 and extends as shown in FIG. 2. If conditions change so that an extension of the supported device is desirable to meet such changes, the invention enables adjustment of this installed structure to be then made without requiring alterations or the obtaining of additional or substituting new equipment. Such changed surroundings might occur, for example, where the structure was installed on a road shoulder supporting a traffic light and a new lane was added to the road to accommodate increased traffic; an extension of the traffic signal to span the new lane would be desirable for safety and traffic regulation compliance. The retention means 14, as shown in one embodiment thereof (FIGS. 3-5),

are operated to lock the partsin adjusted position and readily disengage and reset pursuant to the invention by provision of the longitudinal slit 44 generally inwardly of the free end of the arm, and means provided to compress the slit, such as spaced flanges 46 marginally defining said slit, and cooperating with bolt or other means to selectively compress or open the slit. The adjustment would be made by loosening the retention means 14, which in the preferred embodiment in FIGS. 3-5, would constitute loosening the upper fixing means 42 and the lower fixing means 43, sliding the inner support arm means 13 inside the outer support arm means 12 to the position desired, and tightening the retention means 14 such as 47, 48, to secure the supported device in its new extended operating position (FIG. 2). The outside diameter of the inner support arm means 13 is less than the inside diameter of outer support arm means 12, enabling sliding movement of the inner means 13 in the outer means 12 for adjustable extension of the supported device as desired at varying distances, depending on the usages thereof.

In the preferred embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2) the outer support means 12 comprises two arms, an upper outer support arm 20 and a lower outer support arm 21, and connection supports 22, 23 for positioning said arms relative to each other, having substantially straight segments 24, 24a to enable sliding movement of inner ann segments 34, 34a for the length thereof. The length of substantially straight segments 24, 24a generally detennines the maximum length of slide and extendability of the supported device D with respect to the frame support 15. The device of this invention is adjustable and extendible without requiring drilling, cutting, welding or fabricating in the field, and can be operated by using a hand wrench or other suitable handtool to either extend or retract the supported device on site.

In the embodiment of the device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer support arm has flared end 45 to retain the clamp 40 thereon and prevent loss or damage thereto during adjustment of the arms as above described. Markings (not shown) may be described at intervals along the length of the inner arms to facilitate measuring lengths of extension.

While the foregoing disclosure of exemplary embodiments is made in accordance with the Patent Statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto or thereby, the inventive scope being defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. An adjustable support arm structure, supported on a vertical support for adjustable extension and support of a device which is affixed to the end thereof opposite said vertical support therefor, comprising:

a. a pair of outer support arms, each of said outer support arms being secured at one end thereof to said vertical support and having a free end thereof opposite said supported end;

b. struts, interconnecting said pair of outer support arms to provide strengthened support therefor;

c. a pair of inner support arms, slidably mounted in said outer support arms, each of said inner support anns having a free end thereof and being connected together at the end thereof opposite said free end;

3. In an adjustable support arm structure as described in claim 2, each of said outer support arms having a slitted portion opening to said free end thereof. and said retention means comprising a pair of grip members, each of which compresses corresponding slitted portions in said outer support ann to grip each of said inner support arms therein.

4. In an adjustable support arm structure as set forth in claim 3, said free end being flared to prevent movement beyond said free end of said retention means.

i t t t t 

1. An adjustable support arm structure, supported on a vertical support for adjustable extension and support of a device which is affixed to the end thereof opposite said vertical support therefor, comprising: a. a pair of outer support arms, each of said outer support arms being secured at one end thereof to said vertical support and having a free end thereof opposite said supported end; b. struts, interconnecting said pair of outer support arms to provide strengthened support therefor; c. a pair of inner support arms, slidably mounted in said outer support arms, each of said inner support arms having a free end thereof and being connected together at the end thereof opposite said free end; d. a strut, interconnecting said pair of inner support arms to provide strengthened support therefor; and e. retention means, positioned about said outer support arms for retaining said inner support arms in secured position in said outer support arms.
 2. In an adjustable support arm structure as described in claim 1, each of said outer support arms having substantially straight segments thereof, and each of said inner support arms have corresponding substantially straight segments thereof for slidable movement of said pair of inner support arms in said pair of outer support arms.
 3. In an adjustable support arm structure as described in claim 2, each of said outer support arms having a slitted portion opening to said free end thereof, and said retention means comprising a pair of grip members, each of which compresses corresponding slitted portions in said outer support arm to grip each of said inner support arms therein.
 4. In an adjustable support arm structure as set forth in claim 3, said free end being flared to prevent movement beyond said free end of said retention means. 